We in the media did you a disservice by buying into the Pistons company line and down playing the night Ben Wallace refused to enter a game against Orlando during the regular season.
We said it was no big deal and that things were handled. Ben was just trying to send a message to teammates who he felt no longer worked hard enough on the defensive end.
Little did we know that a bad decision against a bad team was the beginning of the end for the Pistons.
It opened wounds that were never closed. Now those wounds are being exposed again as Wallace leaves to sign a four year deal with the Chicago Bulls for $52 million. He reportedly told the Pistons he was moving on and accepting the Bulls free agent contract offer. The Pistons offered four years at $49.5 million.
Don’t say this was all about money. You mean Ben can’t do without $625,000 a year for the next four years.
The move puts the Pistons in a tough spot but Wallace might be moving on at the right time.
There is no way he is worth a maximum contract and I believe he would be a player of diminishing return with the Pistons. He grew discontent over the past two years and his numbers are beginning to decline.
Now we get to see if it was age (he is 32) or not wanting to be here led to his sometimes disinterested play.
Three years ago Wallace averaged 6.9 points, 15.4 rebounds and 3.15 blocks a game. Last season he averaged 7.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. His game slipped off the radar during the playoffs (4.7 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.22 blocks) and became a detriment to the Pistons.
At least three NBA insiders told me Wallace lost money during the playoffs.
Actually he didn’t. He was just losing interest in the Pistons.
If you believe Wallace left because of money then you were not paying attention. One thing Wallace does a poor job of is hiding his feelings. You could see he was no longer happy here and probably felt unwanted. The Pistons stopped running plays for him. Often on offense he looked like the last kid picked during a play ground pick up game. He was ignored.
He wanted to be more involved in the offense, but his offensive game was so pedestrian that all he did was hurt the Pistons. You gave Wallace the ball not because you expected him to score. You gave him the ball to keep him happy.
That is not good enough.
He also did not like Flip Saunders, an offensive minded coach. But Wallace also did not like Rick Carlisle and Larry Brown. Who did he want as coach? Bill Russell?
So now a slow Fourth of July in Detroit ends filled with fire works. The Captain Steve Yzerman walks away from the Wings and now Big Ben walks away from the Pistons.
When have two stars this big left this town in the span of hours?
Both teams will struggle in the short term as they try to grow into new identities. At least for the Pistons this is a blessing in disguise. The league is changing into a more offensive-minded league that will be run by stars.
It is time for the Pistons to move into the new era. A few years ago we panicked when Grant Hill left and Wallace came in. But the timing was perfect. We just did not know it at the time.
Don’t be surprised if lightening strikes twice and Dumars works a sign and trade with the Bulls, bringing in Tyson Chandler so Ben can get maximum money.
Even if that does not happen it will be a blessing in disguise.